How to convert from hid to halogen

I've thought about doing the same thing, but I haven't pursued it yet. I'll bet you'd have to do some creative engineering to get the power for low beam and for high beam. I do know the connectors are different, obviously.

 

I switched my 2006 Prius from HID to halogen after spending too much money replacing bulbs and ballasts, only to have the problem recur. It was nice to get some shiny new assemblies too.

Lowering the bumper isn’t difficult with a 10mm socket (an extension or deep socket helps) and half of it pops off once the bolts are removed.

I purchased the halogen assemblies on Amazon, $120 for the set included left and right.

I purchased 9003 halogen bulbs and the socket/harness from O’Reilly but they are also on Amazon, roughly $20 for all (look up Dorman 84790 headlight socket on Amazon)

After removing the dust cap from the old assemblies, I cut the black-wrapped wires to the high beams (goes to a little motor on the HID) and cut the white-wrapped wires going to the ballast for low beams. Then I connected the ground from each to the new harness ground wire, and the red bright supply to the red harness, and the red low beam supply to the blue (some harnesses have different colored wires so you’ll have to expose them to see which prong they go to).

The lights look great and have functioned perfectly with great visibility for a couple months now. I suppose I may get dust or moisture inside the lights eventually as the new assemblies did not come with a dust cover, but for now I have the custom combination of halogen lights plus still have fog lights!

I am not the handiest guy, but this was pretty easy and didn’t take too long, once I thought it all through. Hopefully this helps someone else with an older Prius that is experiencing the HID headache. Good luck!

 

Good job, thanks for the info!

 

I feel bad saying this, but of all the ways one can connect two wires together in an automobile, wire nuts are the worst choice I can think of. You can solder, use butt splices or crimp caps, or even twist wires together and wrap them with cheap electrical tape, and any of those things will be better than wire nuts.

 

I'm getting ready to do this swap in my wife's 2007 Prius. I have purchased the new halogen headlamps off Amazon for $115, the sockets, and some new bulbs. I will probably use tap splices on the original sockets instead of cutting them off. Not sure about that yet. Also, for those who choose to do this, my lamps, like Soulbarer's, did not include dust covers. I did a little digging and found that the dust cover for the factory halogen lamps is Toyota part # 81139-47060. I ordered a pair and I expect them to be in this week, so I'll update if they fit (and I expect them to). I think it would be wise to get the dust covers as well.

 

I received the 81139-47060 dust covers today and I can confirm that they fit perfectly on the halogen lamps. If the weather cooperates I may try the install this weekend.

 

Well, I finally got around to the install today. I ended up clipping the harnesses and soldering the new bulb connection. Works great. Now I'm just waiting for the sun to go down so I can try aim them.

 

I'm new here, I'd like to swap from HID to halogen and I've got a question - Did you leave HID ballast from old assembly?

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

I removed headlight and saw both pairs, now I understand what to do, thanks

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

I hear ya but there's probably enough damping altogether for it to last a long time.

 

You're powering the halogen's high beam filament from the HID shutter solenoid circuit? I'd verify rated circuit amperage on that one...

Does the setup light BOTH hi and lo filaments simultaneously in the bulb? That's lotsa heat in an H4 bulb, 55W + 60W.

 

Did you do anything to the ballasts or connections or anything? What cables did you cut and rewire? I simply just hate the auto leveling headlight system. That's all I want to get rid of.. Hahaha.

Thanks in advance!

 

No ballast controller with the Halogen headlight. Yes there are wiring mod's- but there's no cutting the existing wires. So you can go back to the HID if you wish

 

What did you do to Triangle connector from the connected to the old HID housing headlight by the way.Cause there nothing to go where to the new housing of halogen headlight.This was the extra harness I'm talking.

 

I sold the old harnesses along with the old headlamp assemblies, with full disclosure, on ebay for a song and dance. I used old fashioned wire connectors to splice everything and wrapped it all in heavy duty electrical tape. I wasn't worried about amperage as the hid's demand much more than halogen. I am happy to say that two years later, even without the dust covers, my lights continue to look great, have no moisture in them, and function perfectly.

 

How about the other triangle harness mate of it going to the car did you leaved it just there hanging.Caused I will be finalizing the wiring connection to it. Caused I finished also the passenger side putting it. And I might put a dust cover for both. Thanks by the for effort sharing this information hope other people will benefits to it also.

 

So I know this is /kinda/ illegal... I found out where the headlight leveling sensor is on the 2007 Toyota Prius Touring model, and I disconnected the bar that ties the sensor to the rear axle. The headlights now stay where I aim them.

I drive for Uber, but mostly Uber Eats at night. And having that sensor on during the day was adjusting my headlights down really far. And when I drove at night with no one in the car, well, I couldn't really see the signs.

Another thing to note, I replaced the HID's with Xenon HID's. I'm not sure if the headlights are reflecting properly or not, but I can see a little better than before. I also realized that having glasses with Anti Reflective on the lenses really helps with the glare/reading signs.

I'm going to buy the stock HID headlights that go with the prius and see if they're better than the current ones.

I will keep you all updated on the change if you'd like.

Until next time!
Garron

 

So I’m still not a hundred percent sure how to do this if I send you pics of what I’m working with, could you help me figure out the rewiring?

 

We've started doing a lot of these HID to halogen conversions in our shop and if you want it to work properly it's not quite as simple as described. What the OP didn't realize (and was also mentioned in post #12) is that both the high and low beam filaments will be powered at the same time when the highbeams are on. Obviously it works for a while but it will eventually either burn out prematurely or melt some part of the housing because of the extra heat.

In a Prius originally equipped with halogen headlights there are three wires going to the headlight bulb. One power wire for the low beam, one for the high beam, and a common ground. When you switch between low and high beam the relays in the fuse box will stop sending power to one filament and send it to the other. At no time will both filaments be on at the same time.

To get the halogen bulbs to work properly (in HID equipped Prius) you have to install a switching relay behind the housing that directs the constant power (for the bulb) to one filament or the other. The original wires that went to the high beam deflector motor are then use to power the relay and switch it depending on the drivers input.



The triangle connector that originally went to the headlight leveling motor can be tucked out of the way with a zip tie or electrical tape.

You can buy waterproof automotive grade switching relays off of Amazon.

. You need one for each side.

New connectors for the halogen bulbs.

Halogen bulbs.

And a set of new halogen headlight assemblies.

.

I definitely recommend soldering all connections and using heat shrink to protect from the elements. All in this will probably take 3-4 hours and will cost about $175 but you will end up with new lenses that look great and halogen bulbs that can easily be replaced if needed. Next time we do one of these I will post some pictures.

Matt